Avoiding Holiday weight gain

                                          Even CoCo, our cat, is excited for Santa's arrival                  

It has begun! There are people going crazy with Christmas cheer and you know what? Good on them, It is Christmas after all. I survived my version of hell on earth and my first Christmassy event (Carols in the Domain). I was "forced", by my Mum to attend, so I did. Grrrrrr! I'm sure there is a lot of people out there that love that S@#$, I'm just not one of them. This will also be my first dry Christmas (I'm off the booze!), it'll be hard but I've already managed 72 days so far...not that I'm counting hahaha waaah! No I'm totally fine. I love waking up every single day hangover free, it's wonderful and my skin looks incredibly FRESSSH.

For most people, the holiday season tends to mean excess. Drinking, eating and sleeping. So to help you  avoid turning into a Christmas Pud this Holiday season, I've complied some handy tips for you to follow:

• Be prepared! Fail to plan, plan to fail. If you have 3 parties or several dinners and relatives to visit in one day, plan ahead what you will eat. Eat smaller portions of everything. Do not go without, especially at Christmas/holiday time but eat mindfully and try to eat slowly. Stick to meats/fish and salads vs stodgy potatoes and puddings. For dessert go for fruit and custard or pavlova.

• This goes for alcohol too. A bottle of wine contains up to 1000 cals. That is almost a days food intake!! Crazy! And don't forget alcohol affects you negatively for up to 48hrs (depression, decreased testosterone-not good for weight loss, and increases your appetite) try soda water and wine (spritzer), light beer or vodka, soda and fresh lime to reduce alcohol intake and lower calories all-round.

• There's nothing worse than feeling exhausted when party season hits. Keep your routine as best you can. Exercise and try to keep your body in it's natural circadian rhythm. Listen to your body also, if you are tired rather than over-simulate yourself with caffeine have a nap or listen to some relaxing music in your favourite chair.

• Lastly get out and get active. What a perfect time to start a fitness regime. This can finally be the time that you get your life and body sorted.

Merry Christmas Everyone and Bring on the Fabulousness that will  be 2011